Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said political time favours his governing party ahead of the spring 2027 elections during an interview in Western Macedonia.
Speaking to local news website e-ptolemeos.gr and the Ptolemaios newspaper, Mitsotakis explained that the coming months would allow the government to showcase its achievements while opposition proposals faced scrutiny.
Mitsotakis launched a sharp attack against the main opposition PASOK party and its leader Nikos Androulakis, accusing them of exhibiting confusion, populist promises, and incompetence.
He pointed to PASOK's decision not to vote for Yannis Stournaras as governor of the Bank of Greece while supporting Elena Akrita for vice president of Parliament, claiming this showed the party was aligning with political forces that nearly destroyed the country a decade ago.
Mitsotakis has served as Prime Minister of Greece since 2019 at the head of the centre-right New Democracy party. PASOK, a centre-left movement led by Androulakis, has sought to position itself as the main opposition alternative following internal turmoil in the left-wing SYRIZA party.
Criticism of former leadership and economic plans
Without naming former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras directly, Mitsotakis criticized past political opponents over the delayed Thessaloniki Metro project, stating that figures who once inaugurated painted tarpaulins were now seeking a political comeback.
He added that every fulfilled pre-election commitment served as a stamp of credibility for his administration.
Looking ahead to his annual address at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Mitsotakis stated he would outline a comprehensive four-year roadmap for Greece through 2030 alongside the annual budget.
He declared that the central goal of a potential third governing term would be ensuring economic growth reaches every region of the country so that all citizens share in the national economic dividend.
Regional investments in Western Macedonia
Addressing economic development in Western Macedonia, Mitsotakis called for patience regarding additional ambitious investment projects that have not yet been publicly announced.
He outlined several major funding commitments for the area, including 300 million euros for upgrades to the Egnatia Motorway and a pledge to proceed with the road connecting Ptolemaida to Xino Nero and Florina.
However, Mitsotakis explicitly ruled out constructing a western railway along the Egnatia corridor, stating that such a project was not in government plans because its cost was unrealistic. He noted that plans would focus on the Florina to Thessaloniki rail link and its connection to the Florina Industrial Zone.
Mitsotakis also highlighted major industrial projects in the region, including Public Power Corporation plans expected to create over 2,000 jobs, and a development by Wonderplant worth over 150 million euros that would generate more than 400 jobs.
Western Macedonia has historically served as Greece's industrial coal-mining heartland. The region is currently undergoing a structural economic transition as the country phases out lignite power generation in favour of renewable energy.
Responding to questions from journalist Antonis Pougaridis about local frustration over delays in transition projects, Mitsotakis acknowledged regional skepticism. He admitted that he would have preferred certain initiatives to move faster and promised honest self-criticism, while emphasizing that the government would not diminish the significant work already completed.
